A History Of The Rise Of Methodism In America - Media Sabda Org

The operation of the Holy Spirit was felt upon the heart of Mr. Asbury at the age of seven years;
but it was not until he was fourteen years old that he was justified by faith. As soon as he was
awakened he left his blind priest and began to attend West Bromwick Church, where Ryland,
Stillingfleet, Talbot, Bagnal, Mansfield, Hawes, and Venn, great names and esteemed gospel
ministers, preached. Soon after, he first heard the Methodists at Wednesbury, and concluded their
way was better than the Church: "Men and women kneeling down -- saying Amen. Now, behold!
they were singing hymns -- sweet sound! Why, strange to tell! the preacher had no prayer book, and
yet he prayed wonderfully! What was yet more extraordinary, the man took his text, and had no
sermon book: this is wonderful indeed! but the best way." Soon after, he united with the Methodists,
and began to hold meetings and exhort the people, and, several found peace to their souls through
his labors. He was next known as a local preacher, laboring in the counties of Derby, Stafford,
Warwick, and Worcester. After acting as a local preacher for nearly five years, he gave himself up
to God and his work, fully, in the twenty-second year of his age, which was in 1766.
For more than six months previous to his offering himself for the work of this country, he had felt
a conviction that he would come to America. At the Conference, which was held at Bristol in 1771,
Mr. Wesley made a second call for preachers to go over to America, when Mr. Asbury offered
himself, and was accepted by Mr. Wesley. When he came to Bristol, in order to sail for Philadelphia,
he had not one penny; but the Lord opened the hearts of friends, who supplied him with clothes and
ten pounds of money. On the 2d of September he left England and his weeping parents and friends
behind, to see them no more in this world! On landing in Philadelphia, he was directed to the house
of Mr. Francis Harris, who brought him and Mr. Wright to a large church (St. George's), where Mr.
Pilmoor preached that evening. He says, "The people looked on us with pleasure, hardly knowing
how to show their love sufficiently, bidding us welcome with fervent affection, and receiving us as
angels of God. When I came near the American shore, my heart melted within me, to think from
whence I came, where I was going, and what I was going about. But my tongue was loosed to speak
to the people."
We have seen the kind and cordial feeling manifested by the Philadelphia Methodists towards
Messrs. Asbury and Wright on their arrival. This spirit was possessed in a high degree by the first
race in this city, and shown towards their preachers. After spending a few days in Philadelphia Mr.
Asbury proceeded to New York, which was his first field of labor in this country. In passing through
Jersey he became acquainted with Mr. Peter Van Pelt of Staten Island, who gave him an invitation
to his house, which was accepted, an he spent the following Sabbath on this Island, preaching at Mr.
Van Pelt's and at Justice Wright's. We take this to be the first Methodist preaching on the Island.
After some years a society was formed, and a chapel was built about 1790. Israel Disosway,
Abraham Woglam, Justice Wright, Moses Doty or Doughty, Mr. Ward, and Peter Van Pelt, were the
first friends that Methodist preachers found on this island. In a subsequent part of this work will be
found a copy of the first class paper of the Methodists of Staten Island, as furnished by Gabriel P.
Disosway, whose father was the first class leader.
Peter Van Pelt's brother, Benjamin, became a Methodist, and a useful local preacher in Tennessee.
The Rev. William Burke says, "At an early time, Benjamin Van Pelt moved from Alexandria, Va.,
and settled on Lick Creek, Green county, Tenn. He had considerable talents, and was very useful in